Full Scale Replica of Noah’s Ark Now Open to Visitors

In 1992, Johan Huibers had a dream wherein he watched his homeland, the Netherlands, as it was completely flooded by the North Sea. Shaken by his vision, he was inspired to try to build a replica of the Biblical Ark that delivered Noah and his family from a worldwide flood.

In 2004, Huibers completed a half scale replica of Noah’s Ark. Using proceeds he earned by giving tourists Ark rides through a canal, he invested in the building of a full scale replica of the famed vessel. He endeavored to use methods, materials and measurements as close to those that are described in Scripture as he could.

God told Noah to use “resin wood”. Noah used gopher wood (experts still argue as to what “gopher wood” truly is), Huibers used a different resin wood, Scandinavian pine. The Bible describes the ark as having been 300 cubits long, 50 cubits wide, and 30 cubits high. A cubit is an ancient unit of measure said to be about the distance between a man’s elbow to fingertips. Using his own arm as reference, Huibers build his ark 300 cubits long (about 450 feet or 137 meters), 50 cubits wide (about 70 feet or 21 meters), and 30 cubits high (about 45 feet or 14 meters). His completed ark weighs 3,000 tons and can accomodate 1,500 people. Rather than keeping real animals on the ship, Huibers has placed life sized animal statues throughout the ark.

Huibers is a devout Christian and Creationist, and his goal is to educate people about his faith. He’d initially hoped to sail the ark and bring his message to London in time for the Olympics, but safety concerns by officials in London prevented the voyage.

In an interesting turn of events, the 2012 apocalypse panic craze has prompted more than a few affluent folks to offer Huibers money for space on the ark, in the off chance that the world may end on December 21 of this year. Huibers http://ninavilasboas.com/ that the ark is not meant to be a “rescue boat”. It is an educational museum. He clearly doesn’t put a lot of stock in Mayan prophecy.

How is it possible to build a scale “model” of something that’s never existed. Does Huibers truly believe that a pair of every animal in the world – including around 8 million insect species – could’ve fitted into this relatively small boat? This is one of the silliest concepts I’ve yet to read about, although it’s guaranteed to give atheists a good laugh.

@ausGeoff,
He built the model according to the Biblical description which included measurements of the ark. Whether or not the ark itself existed or that Huibers truly beleives in the story is irrelevant. He simply designed his replica based off of scripture and interpretation.

My understanding of the original “Ark” was that it had to be built to be totally enclosed and sealed against water. [as a submarine } I build model boats and no “testing” will substitute for a 500 – 1,000 Ft “Wave” millions of tons of water traveling at high speed. all boats go DOWN first from the weight. Coincidentally I am an Atheist and I am not laughing. At least Mr Huibers is thinking and DOING

Geoffrey, how can you say something like Noah’s Ark never existed? Do some research and you’ll find ships of similar proportions being found all over the globe. Noah’s Ark, it has been argued, is to be found here:

Does Huibers is a Creationist therefore he DOESN’T believe that a “pair of every animal in the world – including around 8 million insect species” – could’ve fitted onto the ark.
Typical atheist ‘straw man’ argument.

Read the Genesis account and you will see that two of every KIND (NOT SPECIES) were to be taken onto the Ark. Only animals “in whose nostrils was the breath of life” were to be taken on, therefore not insects. Nor fish, obviously.

It’s common courtesy to actually READ an account before passing judgement on it. The fact you have ‘yet to read’ it says it all.